Therapeutic garment



June 7,1960 M. PQMCCLUNG 2,939,462

THERAPEUTIC GARMENT Filed Aug. 14, 1958 INVENT OR 079mm: A We (Aw/6 Uitd States, Pe 0."

THERAPEUTIC GARMENT Marjorie P. McClung, 111 N. Broadway, Apt. G-4,White Plains, N.Y.

Filed Aug. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 755,061

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-454) This invention relates to garments and morespecifically to a novel and improved shirt or blouse and to improvedmeans for carriage by such shirt or blouse for supporting the lowerportion of the back particularly when the wearer is in a sittingposition.

Numerous back supporting devices have been proposed and known structuresare generally in the form of belts and the like which are not onlyexpensive, but also uncomfortable particularly in hot weather.

While specially prepared back-supporting belts may be required forserious back difliculties, in cases where support of the back is onlyrequired in the sitting position and particularly when driving anautomobile, known supportingdevices have not been found satisfactory orconvenient.

This invention provides a novel and improved therapeutic garmentincluding back'supporting means that is particularly effective forsupporting the lower portion of the back when the wearer is in a sittingposition and particularly when driving an automobile and preventssubjection of the back to uncomfortable stresses and strains caused bynormal vibration of a moving vehicle.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel and improved shirtlengthgarment carrying back supporting means at a point below the waistof the wearer. Through a novel and improved arrangement of elements, theactual supporting element is removably held by the garment so that itcan be easily removed for replacement and laundering of the garment. Inthis way, the garment can be cleaned in the same manner as any othersimilar garment and supporting pads of different materials and stiffnesscan be provided to meet the needs and desires of the individual wearer.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel and improvedshirt-like garment adapted to receive and hold a back supporting pad ata point below the waist and held in position by an appropriate waistbelt normally used with trousers, skirts and the like.

A still further object of the invention resides in a novel and improvedback supporting pad adapted to be retained in position on the back of ashirt or shirt-like garment and at a point below the waist of the wearerto aiford support to the lower portion of the back particularly when thewearer is in a sitting position. In the case of a conventional mansshirt, the utilization of elongated split shirt tails aifords furthersupport for the pad when the wearer is in a sitting position and holdsit snugly against the back.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of anovel and improved therapeutic garment.

ment in accordance with the invention and shown position on the wearer;

Figure 2 is a back elevational view of a fragmentary part of the garmentshown in Figure 1 illustrating the configuration of the shirt belowthebelt line in dotted outline and in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention; I

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the inside portion of the garmentshowing the pad receiving pocket, the tails; of the shirt and a padabout to be inserted into the pocket;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the inside of the pocketmember shown inFigure 3 prior to attachment to a garment; Figure 5 is 'a crosssectional view of the pocket shown in Figure 3 taken along the line 5-5thereof; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the pocket shown in Figure 3 with acornerfolded back to show the pad in position in the garment." v i Forthe'purpose of this description the invention will be described andillustrated in connection with a man's shirt though'it will becomeapparent that it may be used in connection with any shirt-like structureand similar garments.

The therapeutic shirt in accordance with the invention is generallydenoted by the numeral 10 and affords the appearance'of a conventionalshirt. The back portion'of the shirt is preferably providedwith'elongated tails 11 that The invention also provides an improvedshirt or blouse Figure 1 is a rear oblique perspective view of agarextend downwardly and at least partially into the legs of thetrousers 12 as shown in Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, the adjoining edges of the elongated tails 11 meet at acentral point'13 preferably positioned well above the crotch of thewearerso that the tails can extend into the trouser legs as illustrated,and permit the back panel 14 to lie flat against the back of vthewearer. In normal practice the meeting point 13 of the tails 11 ispositioned slightly above the bottom of the spine. 1'

A pocket 15 of a generally square configuration is sewn to the inside ofthe back panel so that the top edge 16 of the pocket is slightly belowthe waist of the wearer as defined by the belt B as shown in Figure 2.The bottom of the pocket extends partially into the tails 11 of theshirt and the center portion of the pocket has a V- shaped cut-outcoinciding with the configuration of the adjoining edges of the tails.In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the pocket 15 is sewn tothe shirt along the side edges 17, the bottom edges 18 and along theedges 19 of the apex'13 as shown in Figure 3. The upper edge 16 of thepocket is provided with an internal flap 20 extending downwardly insidethe pocket a short distance to receive and hold the back supporting pad21 as will be observed more clearly in Figure 6. The pad 21 may beformed of any desirable material as, for instance, a heavy fabric feltor felt reinforced by a suitable metallic material that will oifer thedesired support. The configuration of the pad 21 coincides with that ofthe pocket 15 and the bottom edge 22 of the pad includes a V-shapedcut-out 23 to accommodate a V-shaped configuration inthe bottom edge ofthe pocket as previously described. Inasmuch as the V-shaped indentationterminates at the point 13 which is preferably disposed slightly abovethe lower end of the spine of the wearer, the pad will afiord supportfor the back and will not interfere with or press against the bottom endof the spine when the wearer is in a sitting position.

When the pad 21 is inserted in the pocket 15, the pocket flap 20 islifted up so that the pad can be inserted beneath this flap. This isshown in Figure 6 wherein a corner of the pocket 15 has been folded backto show the pad 21 engaged with the pocket flap 20.

While the pocket 15 may be sewn to the shirt panel 14 in any desiredmanner, it is preferable to secure it to ,lfatented June7, 1 960.

3 thebacik panel in a manner that will produce seams having bulkinessand afford ample space for receipt of the pad 21. A preferred mode ofattachment is shown in Figure 5 wherein inside seams are used along theedges 19 to permitexpansion of the pocket about the V-shaped lowerportion should a relatively heavy pad beinserted in the pocket.

The unique design and arrangement of elements in accordance with theinvention provides a back supporting pad that will be maintained in itsproper position without the need of any auxiliary straps, bands or anyother similar device. In the instant embodiment of the invention, thetop edge 16 of the pocket 15 is disposed slightly below the waist ofwearer so that the belt B functions to hold the pad against upwardmotion and thereby retain it in proper position on the wearer. The tails11, which extend downwardly into the pant legs, prevent lateral shiftingof the back portion of the shirt, and consequently the pad, so that thepad will be maintained in a centered position. In addition,- the use ofextended tails which underlie the-wearer when in the sitting positionprevents the pad from shifting upwardly and does not place any stress orpressure on the underside of the spine.

It is to be understood that the improved shirt alone and in combinationwith the pad may be formed in any desired manner. For instance, theV-shaped opening 13 between the rear tails may be in the form of a sharpV or may be curved or even rectangular provided that the uppermost partof said opening be well above the crotch so that the shirt will lie flatagainst the back of the wearer. Furthermore, the pocket and pad may beof any desired shapeor configuration as may be desired.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is apparent that modifications, alterations and changesmay be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A therapeutic garment comprising a shirt-like structure including aback panel, said back panel terminating at its lower end in apair ofelongated tails with the adjoining edges of said tails forming aV-shaped opening, a pocket secured to said back panel with its bottomedge below the meeting point of said adjoining edges and having acentral V-shaped cut-out conforming with the V- shaped opening betweenthe tails, and a pad removably positioned in a said pocket, said padhaving a V-shaped configuration in the lower edge thereof conformingwith said central cut-out in said pocket.

2. A therapeutic garment comprising a shirt-like structure having a backpanel adapted to extend substantially below the waist of the wearer, apocket carried by said back panel at a point just below the waist andoverlying the lower portion of the back of the wearer, and a backsupporting pad carried in said pocket, said pad and pocket adapted to bemaintained in position by a waist encircling belt for supporting adepending lower garment.

3. A therapeutic garment according to claim 2 including means on saidpocket for retaining said pad in position therein.

4. A therapeutic garment according to claim 2 wherein the bottom edge ofsaid pad includes a shallow cutout portion disposed centrally thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,129,577 Guerin Sept. 6, 1938 2,398,428 Hirlund Apr. 16, 1946 2,481,291Coleman Sept. 6, 1949 2,617,412 Steinberger Nov. 11, 1952

